A
young clone starts a journey that will take him to the far reaches of
the galaxy. He must choose between what is best for his oppressed
clone brethren and the greater good while he meets dangerous villains
and reluctant heroes along the way.

And
who are the elusive Scream? What do they want and how far will they
go to get it?

The
galaxy is in turmoil. The two main powers, the Acolyte Empire and the
Clone Defense Force, vie for supremacy.

Caught
in between are the weaker Galactic Planetary League and independent
planets, pawns to be used and discarded in the greater game. The
peace of the galaxy rests on a powder keg…and the fuse is about to
be lit.

As
the son of the Acolyte Emperor God-Reign, Devante lives a life of
power and luxury that few can fathom.

Since
childhood, he has devoted his life to one thing: freeing the clone
slaves of the CDF and banning the practice of cloning throughout the
galaxy. But he is about to uncover a secret that goes to the heart of
the empire he loves and serves, one that will set him on a course of
vengeance and destruction that will shake the galaxy to its
core.

Against
this backdrop of war, treachery, and intrigue, Galactic Mandate tells
an epic saga of god-emperors and assassins, spies and queens,
princesses and slaves.

The
lives of all will be irrevocably changed as Devante embraces his
destiny—for when empires collide, no one is safe, and there is no
place in the galaxy to hide.

In
the Adirondack Mountains the forests are dying by the hand of a demon
whose only purpose is the destruction of the natural world.

Within
the high peaks of the Adirondacks a magical edifice, Heartwood,
appears yet remains hidden from the world. Inhabited by the
descendants of an ancient race who have been protecting the natural
world since the beginning of their existence, they will wait for the
next true Xylem who is the only one powerful enough to fight the
demon.

The
battle will soon begin.

Heartwood
weaves legend into reality as the world’s ecosystem is threatened
by supernatural demons. Elathea is a typical teenager whose parents
can no longer keep the family secret from her—that she is a
descendant of an ancient race of women whose legend says only one
progeny every hundred years or more will have the powers needed to
face nature’s magical enemies. As her powers begin to emerge, they
can no longer deny her destiny. They send her to Heartwood to learn
about who she is and what she must do. Only Ela doesn’t want the
job.

I
live in upstate New York with my two dogs; a 17 year old Min Pin
(Zeus) and a female dog I recently rescued from the Puerto Rico
hurricanes (I have been learning Spanish and she is learning
English!). Her name is Ela and she is a joy.

I
have been writing in some form or other since high school when I
bought my first guitar (a 12 string for $50 from one of those
magazines my mother used to receive in the mail) and began writing
songs. In college, I started my first novel that I hope to go back to
and finish someday.

I
currently work for a school district in transportation as a router
and dispatcher where I use software to solve the puzzle of getting
5600 students to many different schools, but my goal is to become a
full time writer of novels and music. I try to fit writing in with my
full time job and hobbies that include biking, gardening, hiking,
kayaking and watching movies (lots of them and all kinds)

I
continue to write songs and perform with Dooley(my music partner) We
have a CD of original songs and it is available for your enjoyment.
Visit me at nancenewman.com to check it out.

I
am really excited to share my work with you, and some days you might
see me driving a big yellow school bus.

“It’s
Harriet’s fault. It’s always her fault, not that she’ll ever
admit it.” So begins A Spell of Murder: A Witch Cats of Cambridge
mystery, the first in a new cozy series that mixes feline fiction
with a touch of the paranormal, and a little romance as well.

Becca,
newly single and newly unemployed, wants to believe she has psychic
powers. With nothing but time – and a desire for empowerment –
she’s studying to become a witch. What she doesn’t know is that
her three cats – Harriet, Laurel, and Clara – are the ones with
the real power. And when Harriet – “a cream-colored longhair with
more fur than commonsense” – conjures a pillow for her own
comfort, Becca believes her spells are finally working. Could that be
why Trent, the coven’s devilishly handsome leader, has been showing
her special attention? Or why Suzanne, a longtime coven member, draws
her aside to share a secret – a confidence that may lead to murder?

A Spell of Murder by Clea Simon is unique and different from all the stories I have read. This story is told through the eyes of tone of the three sister cats that are magic, Clara. They live with a young woman, Rebecca Callwin, and she doesn’t know about their abilities. One time, Harriet, one of the cats, accidentally summons a pillow while Becca has her magic group with her and she is saying a spell. Now, “The Coven” believes Becca is a real witch.

The main character is Clara the younger sister cat. The whole story is told by a narrator who tell what each character is feeling. The three cats are able to do magic and go through things, but usually it is Clara who follows her owner to keep an eye on her and what is going on in her world. On one of these trips, they find Becca’s friend dead. When Becca become the number one suspect the cats help her find the killer.

This is a great, cozy mystery with the right amount of death and suspects. It may feel off to a person who doesn’t care for cats, because it takes time to give personality to the felines, along with telling the story. Some may find it intrusive, but I believe it adds to the story in a good way. It is great reading for anyone who likes cozy mysteries and animals.

Clea
Simon is the author of “A Spell of Murder,” the first in
her new “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series. She is also the
author of “World Enough,” a rock ‘n’ roll noir, as well as
the Blackie and Care series (most recently “Cross My Path”)
chronicling the adventures of the pink-haired Care and the black
feral cat who loves her. In addition to these darker books, she is
also the author of the Dulcie Schwartz feline mysteries, the Pru
Marlowe pet noir mysteries, and the Theda Krakow mysteries, as well
as three nonfiction books, including The Feline Mystique: On the
Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The
recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations
Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her
husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Musetta.

Dividing my time between homes in South-West France and Abu Dhabi, I live with my husband and our beautiful Tonkinese cat. I spent 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, before a change of career led me to writing books for children instead.
Shadows from the Past is series of time-travel adventures, featuring 3 children and a rather special Tonkinese cat by the name of Max. I’m currently working on the tenth book in the series, The Shadow of the Witchfinder. Max also has a few solo adventures of his own to accompany the series.

As I take my young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, I’m hoping that my love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too.

A second solo adventure awaits Max the time-travelling Tonkinese cat in this Christmas short story.

Invited to accompany a well-known figure on a whirlwind trip into the past, he sets off on a mission to search for something very precious to his owners Jemima and Joe Lancelot – their missing parents.

The hunt reveals tantalising clues to this mystery and ends with a special surprise for the twins.

Max the talking Tonkinese cat has a third solo adventure in this seasonal short story.

What happens when the feline hero is trapped in the attic one night?

Will he escape the clutches of the Christmas fairy, a regiment of soldiers and three obstreperous French hens in time to enjoy a holiday with his family?

One thing’s for sure, the Twelve Days of Christmas will never seem quite the same again …

EXTRACT 1: Struggling to break loose, Max thrust his head out through
the tangle of tinsel and took a few gulps of air. From downstairs, he heard the
distant chimes of Uncle Richard’s grandfather clock and counted as it struck
twelve times. It was midnight.

EXTRACT 2: ‘What the Dickens is all this racket?’ barked the wooden
soldier, glaring at the fairy as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. ‘Why have
you woken everyone up? You know the rules, Tinks. Christmas is still months
away.’

Tired of being the smallest dinosaur, Bob sets out on an adventure to change his appearance. After facing many obstacles, Bob decides that being small isn’t as bad as he thought it was.

When the wizards steals all the color from Bob’s home, the littlest dinosaur goes in search of the color fairies. But when they refuse to help simply because he’s different, he has to find another way to restore the colors.

Karlie Lucas is a preschool teacher by day and a writer/artist by night.A graduate of Southern Utah University, Karlie received a B.A. in Creative Writing, with a minor in art. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, as well as ANWA, the American Night Writers Association.

Karlie is interested in all things magical and mysterious, especially elves and dragons. She is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling.

When not writing, Karlie can often be found drawing, baking, watching her favorite old school shows, or just spending time with her family.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and a cat named Kally

***** Bod the Littlest Dinosaur written and Illustrated by Karlie Lucas

This is a cute tale of how a small dinosaur wants to grow big. He goes to see a wizard and travels through different places to get there. He learns several lessons on his journey to make his wish come true.

Beautiful colored illustrations are found in each page of this book. They are sensible, clear, and cute, not too busy or huge, just perfect for the page. This will be a great addition to any child’s library and can be used to read along with a parent, or alone by a child.

***** Bob the Littlest Dinosaur and the Color Fairy written and Illustrated by Karlie Lucas

In this tale, Bob the littlest Dinosaur wakes up one morning to find all the colors gone from his land. His new friend, the gnome, says it is the bad wizard. He suggests that Bob go to the land of the color fairy and ask them to return color to him and his land. The color fairies aren’t very helpful, with the exception of one. She is different, like Bob. Once again, Bob and the reader are reminded that we should celebrate our differences.

It is nicely done and well expressed. It is suitable for second graders and up, or read by a parents to younger kids.

Fearsome
demon hunter Nadira has been torn from her next life and resurrected
in present-day New York. The demons she once battled have made peace
with humans. Or, so they claim. But brawls between demons and humans
are becoming more frequent, and human leaders are
disappearing.

Tasked
by the shadowy organization that trained her, she must battle her own
personal trauma and once again fight for the souls of mankind. Will
Nadira remain a beacon of light to those fighting for humankind? Or
will she lose her humanity to the darkness within?

She
fell in love with reading as a high school freshman and continues to
read, write, and draw today. Her background in social work helps her
portray realistic characters in fantastic–and sometimes
terrifying–situations. A New York native, Azaaa currently lives in
New Hampshire with her husband and daughter.

She
debuts with This Time, A Nadira Holden Novel, about demon hunters,
family ties and the magic of love.

Azaaa
is working diligently to finish writing more fantasy novels while
raising her daughter. Her next book is expected to be released in
early 2019. Thank you for showing an interest in her stories!

Willful witches, supernatural sorcerers, cruel queens,
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More
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ROMANCE and URBAN FANTASY books in the genre, each brimming with
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Journey through worlds of danger and
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fight for unrestricted power.

But reader beware: the highly
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The
year is 2197. More than one hundred years have passed since the
natural destruction of the Earth’s surface. The surviving inhabitants
are now living in Heavenly Cities high above the clouds with no
intention of ever descending back to the unstable surface
again.

Helen
is a lawyer who lives in one of those cities. Her life is almost
perfect, but very soon she is going to find out that it was all just
an illusion as her dreams scatter like leaves in the wind and the
only thing left for her to return to will be her hometown.

But
on her way home, an almost fatal car accident on the heavenly highway
turns her life in a drastically new direction. Helen finds herself
crashing down onto the earth’s destructive surface and landing in a
forest world that is completely alien to her with a million and one
questions and very few answers.

The
number 1 question being – is it really true what the government told
her and the surviving population that no one ever survived down on
Earth? Well, what if the truth was the complete opposite? What if
there really were survivors?

Stjepan
Varesevac-Cobets was born on 12 September 1965 in Split, Croatia. He
lives and works in Kastel Sucurac, where he finished his elementary
and secondary schooling.

At
a very young age, he started reading and loved it because, through
books, he traveled to places he could never visit in person. As a
child, he loved fairy tales and adventure but later discovered other
genres. When he found a Jules Verne book in the library, he became
fascinated by science fiction. He has been writing poetry for fifteen
years and has started writing science fiction. Lately, he has also
written children’s fairy tales and fables.

He
has published, in Croatia, “An Opened Heart” in 2002, “The
Sleepy Way” in 2005, and “Love” in 2006. On Amazon he
has published the poetry collections “The Child of Happiness”
in 2015, science fiction novel “Godeena” in 2015, the
science fiction short story “Butterfly” in 2016, the poetry
collection “When the moon takes over the dream: Love Poetry”
in 2016, and in 2017 the poetry collection “The Flaming Horses:
Collection of poetry”. He also translated his new Sci-Fi novel
“The Dream of the Forest”.

When
Rhea and Amor-el defeated the vampire horde, they thought they
won.

When
Rhea birthed Destin, the miracle son, they thought they fulfilled an
ancient prophecy.

When
the blue roses bloomed, they thought they achieved a long-denied
bliss.

They
were wrong.

Now,
the blue roses are dying. A tarot card reading warns of impending
dangers and an impossible future. In this gripping sequel to the
bestselling Time and Blood, a strangely ailing Rhea, a desperate
Amor-el, and a jealous Destin must confront familiar enemies banding
together against Rhea and her bower family. These powerful
adversaries plan to kill the phoenix, her lover, and her son; steal
The Great Book of Forgetting, and end the prophecy.

When
arson and murder strike too close to friends, they question loyalties
and deny love when they need it most. Blood stains the bower.

To
protect her family and the prophecy Rhea makes the ultimate
sacrifice. After all, in the battle between love and blood, blood
never lies.

Historians
in Atlantis inscribed a prophecy in The Great Book of Forgetting
about a pair of phoenix whose union would change the future of all
magical creatures. When the sea swallowed Atlantis and all her
inhabitants, time forgot the people and this prophecy.

But
one creature survived.

Rhea
is a scarlet phoenix and the last of her kind. She escaped Atlantis
with The Great Book and for over ten thousand years roamed the earth,
grieved for her lost immortal beloved, and endured nightmares from
her past lives. Today, she hears a familiar voice on the wind luring
her to a new place. Rhea follows and hopes for the impossible.

She
crossed millennia to find him.

Jean-Louis
is a 250-year-old vampire in New Orleans. For fifty years, nightmares
plagued him, and a violent wind haunted him whispering in a foreign
tongue. In his dreams, Jean-Louis sees the face of a woman he knows
and aches for but has never met. He feels her approach; however, the
vampire senses a connecting malevolence waits in the shadows.

He
risks his immortality to keep her.

An
accident will bring Rhea into Jean-Louis’ arms. The shock will give
new life to the ancient prophecy. But others whisper of the legendary
phoenix and are hunting for Rhea. They must steal The Great Book and
prevent any chance of the prophecy’s fulfillment. If they fail, the
phoenix must die.

Together
they battle destiny for the future.

Rhea
will risk everything for love, even death.

When
time and blood converge, blood must win.

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Legacy Award for Excellence

2018 Global Ebook
Awards Gold Medalist (Cover)

When
Atlantis fell into the sea, a single creature survived–a scarlet
phoenix. She escaped with ancient man’s historical record, The
Great Book of Forgetting. This book recorded mankind’s every legend
and prophecy. Only the Archangel of Death understood man’s survival
depended on the fulfillment of one particular prophecy, that of the
scarlet phoenix.

Rhea
is the scarlet phoenix, transmuted into human form with wings of
fire. She hides The Great Book from those seeking to steal it and
prevent the prophecy. The Archangel befriends and protects her as he
watches her traverse time and mold history. She is the proverbial
rose that blooms in a future garden.

Jean-Louis
Riviere is an aristocrat who became a vampire during the American
Revolution. He is haunted by an ill wind whispering strange and
incredible possibilities. His family ties will lure those who wish to
destroy the prophecy; however, the Archangel also knows his blood is
all that will save the rose and secure the future

Drahomira
is a gypsy, a bastard princess, and a vampire. The Archangel of Death
chose her to protect the phoenix because she is an irreverent killer
but loyal to family. She will journey across continents and be the
catalyst that brings Rhea and Jean-Louis together. First, she must
leave her people, her throne, and her lover, cross a continent for
vengeance, die, and be reborn. Only then will she discover that she
is the rose’s legendary thorn in the Evening Bower.

Sherry
Rentschler’s fiction and poetry has appeared online and in print.
She’s a previous Assistant Editor, Amateur Poetry Journal (online),
and a newspaper photojournalist. She lived in Italy, traveling around
Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and
Greenland.

Rentschler has three award-winning books of poetry,
a fictional memoir and an award-winning and bestselling paranormal
romance series, The Evening Bower. Her one book of photography, I
Wish You Joy is Rentschler’s only photographic compellation and makes
a lovely coffee table pictorial.

Among Sherry’s numerous
awards include a 2018 Global Ebook Legacy Award, a 2018 Global Ebook
Gold Award, two 2018 Global Ebook Silver awards for Fiction, a 2018
Readers Favorite Honorable Mention for her fantasies The Gypsy Thorn,
and Time and Blood. Plus two 2017 National Indie Excellence Award
Finalists (The Book of Now interior and poetry), 2017 eLit Book
Silver Award for poetry (The Book of Now), a 2017 Indie Press Award
for the cover of her non-fiction poetry, The Book of Now, 2017
Readers’ Favorite 5 Star reviews for Breaking the Glass Slipper, and
The Book of Now.

Among her hobbies are all things vampire,
plus dragon collecting, photographing trees, and dancing with
faeries. She loves old Sherlock Holmes movies, reading urban and
gothic fantasies, fine wine, and consuming rich, dark chocolate.
Rentschler is a retired USAF veteran and currently resides in North
Carolina with her husband, also a retired USAF veteran. They await
the return of the dragons.

Werewolves are the guardians of sleeping vampires, protecting their masters during the deadly light of day. But what happens when a werewolf gets fed up with the persecution and tempts fate by breaking his chains and fleeing while his masters sleep?

Wounded and desperate, Zev finds himself at the mercy of a family who stumbles upon him during their own quest for vengeance against the demons of the night.

The fall of Orion was the prophecy all of Earth awaited, but when the constellation vanished instead of the great ruling ship of the overlords, chaos fell across the savage land.

Zyla had always felt a connection to the constellation. While experts were busy speculating about vanishing star systems, astronomical impact, and the longevity of the battle that began as a result, Zyla started searching for Orion because, if the nightmares she kept having come true, they were in desperate need of a hero.

But
Fredericton is a long way from the shores of Lake Ontario, and
schemes for power will bring together three extraordinary young
warriors.

Savannah

A
desert girl who came to Trana looking for refuge but has never found
a home

Kieran

A
privileged city boy dreaming of rebellion and hardened by
cruelty

Kyle

The
disgraced heir to the throne desperate to win back his place in his
father’s heart

Sworn
enemies or reluctant allies, they all have one thing in common: an
incomplete half of the legendary fighting skill known as the
Triumvirate sword art. They fight for glory, for power, for the
monsters lurking beneath the streets, and for the mysterious society
moving in the shadows of Trana—the Black Trillium.

Do your characters hijack your book? Is there anything you would change about the book?

When I write a novel the only constant throughout the process is characterization. The entire plot may shift, settings change, timelines fluctuate, but the thread of character remains the lodestar of the story.

Kieran was always callow and passionate.

Savannah was always withdrawn but compassionate, more cynical than Kieran but still hopeful for a gentler world.

Kyle was always a selfish prick with daddy issues and far too much entitlement. How these characters bounced off each other and their secondaries was always what shaped the book.

So yes, they hijacked the story, but I couldn’t have written it any other way. But there is a weakness in this, and that’s one thing I would have changed if I had to do it over.

When I was finished the book I wasn’t entirely satisfied with Sophie’s characterization. There’s an interesting character there but the characters who served as my POV couldn’t see her.

Kyle was too fixed on the image of Sophie he had in his head and never bothered to really learn who she was within herself. Savannah only saw a monster to fight, and never tried to get to know her and Kieran had very little to do with her. I felt the absence of her internality was ultimately a flaw in the story, and I think, if I could ever do it over again, I’d make her a POV character in her own right.

Simon McNeil is the
author of The Black Trillium, a story of revolution and martial arts
set in the ruins of Toronto. This novel is published by Brain
Lag Publishing.

He is an online
marketing communications specialist with a major educational
institution when not wandering the world looking for trouble. He is a
life-long martial artist, has published several articles in Kung Fu
Magazine and he’s probably a little bit too fond of kung fu movies.

He lives in Toronto,
Canada with his wife who has happily laid out rules to prevent the
sword-through-glass-lampshade incident from ever happening again. The
Black Trillium is his first novel.

Fifteen-year-old
Matt Mitchell was having the worst summer imaginable. Matt’s misery
started when a drunk driver killed his mother. Then Matt’s father
moved him and his sister to a small town in rural Indiana, as far as
his grieving father could get from the ocean that his mother had
loved. At the new high school, three bullies were determined to make
Matt miserable. And to top it off, Matt learned that the recluse who
lived in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door was none other
than Old Lady Hawthorne, the town’s infamous witch and murderer.
Matt’s terrible summer was turning into an awful autumn when
something quite unexpected happened. Old Lady Hawthorne’s niece and
her three children moved in next door, and Matt met Gerallt.

The Secrets of Hawthorn House by Donald Firesmith

Matt and Tina Mitchell are twins who just lost their mother in an accident. Their father takes them far away from the seaside they love to the small town of Hawthorn. There they find themselves next door to the famous haunted house of the ghost of the gray lady. Matt needs some money and starts to clean the yard of the haunted house for Mrs. Hawthorn, getting to know her and her timid ways.

One day, her niece comes to live with her along with her three children. Matt becomes Geralt Hawthorne’s best friend and soon discovers that his family is not the common family he is adjusted to. Their secrets, their corky ways, no electricity, no games or computers make for an interesting friendship. Not only that, but the bullies at school are after them…they will have to pull together or be defeated.

This is a great, clean and entertaining story for middle grade and young adult kids who like mystery, treasure hunts and magic. It is nicely done by Donald Firesmith. I would keep my eyes out for the next book in this series.

A
geek by day, Donald Firesmith works as a system and software engineer
helping the US Government acquire large, complex software-intensive
systems. In this guise, he has authored seven technical books,
written numerous software- and system-related articles and papers,
and spoken at more conferences than he can possibly remember. He’s
also proud to have been named a Distinguished Engineer by the
Association of Computing Machinery, although his pride is tempered
somewhat by his fear that the term “distinguished” makes
him sound like a graybeard academic rather than an active engineer
whose beard is still slightly more red than gray.

By
night and on weekends, his alter ego writes modern paranormal
fantasy, apocalyptic science fiction, action and adventure novels and
relaxes by handcrafting magic wands from various magical woods and
mystical gemstones. His first foray into fiction is the book Magical
Wands: A Cornucopia of Wand Lore written under the pen name Wolfrick
Ignatius Feuerschmied. He lives in Crafton, Pennsylvania with his
wife Becky, and his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs, cats, and
birds.

Lenea’s
brother spends every clear night pointing a telescope at the same
stars. When she confronts him, he lets her look through the
telescope. A small sliver speck changes course, slows, and merges
with a larger silvery spot.

In that brief moment, her
life changes. Her brother spies on space aliens! Soon she learns the
aliens have a settlement in the Kenned Valley, and that her boyfriend
monitors their communications.

Then
he disappears.

What do they want, and can her world survive?

Just
before he has to give up and go home broke, Captain Seddry finds the
perfect world. It is rich in ore, has a breathable atmosphere, and it
even has a reasonable climate — an ideal place for a new Langon
colony. The fuzzy natives won’t be a problem. They don’t have any
large weapons or even airplanes, making them too primitive to ever
find the mining colony hidden away in an isolated valley. Or so he
thinks.

I
live in California with my husband, and raise baby squirrels for a
wildlife care center. I could go into detail about my background and
education, but that is rather boring. Let me say that I am quiet,
love the outdoors, and never have enough time to do all the things I
want to do.

Two
young Vushla questioned what everyone knew about death. What should
they do with the answer?

When the time comes for
Vushla to die, they go into the ocean and are dissolved away. Or so
Terrill has always believed, and still believes after taking part in
his father’s final journey. But when he meets a young Vushlu who
lives by the sea, Terrill must confront information that calls this
fundamental belief into question. Will the two of them discover
the truth? And what should they do with what they find?

Character Interview with Willan, Terrill’s Father Terril is one of the main characters

[NOTE: Terrill’s father Willan, whom Terrill calls Da, is terminally ill and on the way to the ocean. When he reaches it, he will, as dying Vushla do, swim or wade in and let the water dissolve him. Various relatives, including Terrill, and a few friends or neighbors are escorting Willan on this final journey. The interview presumably takes place during a rest stop. Willan’s voice is weak and his speech halting.]

What can you tell me about your life?

Where to start . . . . I have a mate, Lilit, and three children. The youngest, Terrill, is over there. The older ones work in cities and couldn’t get home in time. I don’t have much time, I think.

Is Lilit here?

No. We said goodbye at home. Most mates do. Dragging things out . . . would have hurt her more. And she’s never been much for traveling.

What work did you do, before you took ill?

I did a lot of teaching, teaching children. In our town and nearby. Most ages. I like teaching. And people seem to think I have a gift for it. [a pause] And I make things. Different things. Sandals – lots of sandals. Many people in our town wear my sandals. Boxes, with carved designs. I like carving. [a pause] And I made one hand harp. I’d have made more, I think, if I’d had time.

If you don’t mind my asking, what are your thoughts about the end of this journey? About swimming out to sea?

[a quiet sigh] That it’s a little soon. I’ve had a good life. I would have liked it to have lasted a little longer. [a pause] But it’s all right. Good things come to an end. [a small smile] And I like to learn new things. I’ve been to the ocean, and to funerals, but this is the only way I can learn about going into the waves. What it feels like. What the ocean sounds like from the inside. Whether there’ll be anything to see.

I’m not afraid, really. I’ve never heard of anyone struggling or crying out in pain.

I wish my children and Lilit didn’t have to grieve, and to reshape their lives. Terrill – he’s too young for this. . . . He always looked forward to that first trip to the sea, with the friends of his year. He had so many plans for it. I’m sorry he’s had to trade those plans for this.

[Terrill starts heading toward Willan as the other Vushla move back toward their cycles]

We’ll be going on now. And I should save my voice and my strength for talking to my son.

Character Interview with Terrill

[NOTE: Terrill is a Vushlu. He would have become an adult next year by taking a ritual first journey to the ocean with other Vushla his age. Instead, he attained adult status prematurely, accompanying his dying father to the ocean, where his father went into the water to be dissolved.

Interviewing Terrill is a tricky task. As the book begins, he is understandably morose. Later, when he is less so, he has good reasons not to reveal his activities and concerns. I’ve dealt with this dilemma by splitting his interview into two, and working within the limitations Terrill sets.

The first interview takes place at a rest stop during the funeral party’s return trip. Terrill speaks in a quiet monotone most of the time.]

I’m very sorry about your father.

Thank you.

It will take you quite a while to get home. How are you occupying yourself along the way?

I’m trying to remember as much as I can about Da. [a pause; he clenches and armors his fists] But the things I remember keep reminding me of things I don’t know. Questions I never asked, and never can, now. [long pause]

Have you found any ways to keep your spirits up?

There’s a Weesah peddler who’s been traveling alongside us. He likes to tell stories. When I listen to them, it takes my mind off . . . other things. I’ve even laughed a few times. [glances to the side] Not that my uncle approves. Of the listening or the laughing.

[An older Vushlu approaches; the interview concludes]

———–

[The second interview takes place around three months (or the equivalent) later. Terrill is now traveling in the peddler’s wagon, as is Honnu, another Vushlu about his age.]

Is this where you expected to be, at this time?

No. Nothing about what I’m doing these days is as I expected. One unpredictable event has led to another.

What can you tell me about these events?

[a slight smile – which for Vushla means a rounded mouth] Very little, I’m afraid. Except that one of our funeral party, my aunt, became very ill on the way home. The others returned to the sea with her. I [a short pause] chose not to. That led to my becoming better acquainted with Honnu. And that led to everything else.

So do you think you’ll become a peddler?

[another smile] I don’t think so. But for now, I’m a peddler’s assistant and have my duties. I’d better go.

Perhaps we’ll meet again along the road.

I . . . don’t think that is very likely. But stranger things have happened. [a quiet chuckle] Indeed they have.

Karen
A. Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in
Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers
herself a Hoosier. Wyle’s childhood ambition was to be the youngest
ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age 10, she
was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to
the goal at age 9.

Mary’s family has moved into a huge Victorian mansion. She loves her gigantic new house, especially her room. But then she begins to meet the house’s other residents.

Mrs. Murray was murdered in Mary’s new house. At first she tries to scare the new residents away, but there seems to be a force connecting the ghost to Mary.

Even the stranded Brownies, the little people who live between the walls, feel that connection. When Mary becomes deathly ill, the Brownies and the ghost team up to try to rescue her, only to encounter a witch and her evil minions. Time is running out. They must rescue Mary from a fever-induced dream world before she is trapped there forever.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

“Brùnaidh an Easain! It’s time you started living up to your name,” Peallaidh exclaimed.

“What?” Brùnaidh moaned. “You mean waterfall? And where am I to be finding a waterfall in this cursed place?”

“Sure and weren’t you just bursting water pipes this winter past?” Peallaidh chortled.

“That would make a bonny waterfall.”

“Aye, and a wet basement besides, with gads of giant folks traipsing through our domain to try and fix and clean the mess,” Brùnaidh pointed out. “Now why would I be wanting to do that? Besides,” he paced the small space between the wall and the outer brickwork, his feet barely touching the floor as he walked. “I think this family may be our key. The little lass needs watching.”

“The one they call Mary?” Peallaidh queried. “I can’t see how she can help. She’s but a hen, and a wee one at that.”

“But a whole lot bigger than you and I put together,” Brùnaidh noted. “After all, we’re Brownies and, magic or not, there’s only so much we can do.”

For
Elle, she thought the day she learned she was a Shifter was the most
frustrating day of her life. Well, that was until she found herself
in the middle of a war between her best friend and boyfriend.

Now,
everything is about to change for this trio as a known Witch in Shady
Oaks has decided to wage a war against the Shifters and Otherworldly
Creatures. This time, Elle may find herself battling with new powers
and without her trusted best friend, Maddox. Discover how hearts are
broken and mended in this exciting third installment of the Shifter
Chronicles, Evernight.

Sixteen-year-old
Elle’s life changed in a matter of seconds after learning she wasn’t
only human, but a shifter too. To make matters worse, her best friend
Maddox and boyfriend Asher have a mutual hate for one another that
leaves Elle in the middle of their constant battles. With a new
discovery now lingering over Elle, she is left with more questions
than she ever could have imagined.

Thinking
she has found a way to handle her new found life as a shifter, she
now finds herself faced with a much larger challenge. A huntress
named Evaline is now seeking to destroy all shifters and vampires as
she makes it her goal to avenge her father’s death and end all
otherworldly creatures once and for all.

Will
Elle be able to survive the army now seeking to destroy her
world?

Will
Elle be forced to choose between her best friend and
boyfriend?

Discover
a new fantasy world with Everpure, the second book in the Evershade
Shifter Chronicles.

Sixteen-year-old
Elle thinks she’s got life in Shady Oaks all under control until new
boy Asher comes to town. Elle can’t explain it, but she can’t deny
the connection she feels to him. Things with Asher are going great
until they’re out one night and nearly attacked by a large wolf.
Before she knows it, Elle’s life is spiraling out of control: Maddox
is in love with her, she and Asher are in danger…

and
she learns she’s a shifter!

If
that wasn’t bad enough, she finds herself in the middle of an
ages-old war between shifters and hunters.

What
else can she do but join the cause?

Will
Elle stay with Asher or break-up with him to be with Maddox? What
does it mean to be a shifter? Who will emerge victorious in the
battle?

Michelle
Areaux is a wife, mother, middle school teacher, and author. As an
avid reader and lover of all things literature, she followed her
dream of becoming a published author and has never looked back!

She
earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a
Master’s degree in Literacy from Asbury University.

Adam Gowans is the youngest of five Air Force brats, out of which his siblings have voted him the weirdest. He loves anything that deals with stories, including movies, novels, television dramas, music, video games, manga/manhwa, and webtoons.

In his mid-twenties, he lived and taught English in South Korea for four years before returning to the States to live, like many LDS authors, in Utah.

His first novel is On Angelic Wings, which has a planned sequel, but the sequel will be released after two other novels that are calling for his attention.

Ever since magic caused his mother’s death, Ha-Neul, crown prince of Balhae, hates witches and the magic they wield. He has instituted harsh laws against all magic users.

Lisa is a young witch working undercover as a servant in his palace, hoping to gain freedom for her people. The last thing the two expect is to fall in love. But when Ha-Neul learns that Lisa is not only a witch, but the daughter of the Prince of Vires, land of witches, he banishes her. Distracted by heartbreak, he is caught off-guard by a military coup.

In hiding and on the run, Ha-Neul swallows his pride and travels with his siblings to Vires, planning to beg Lisa’s aid, only to learn that she has mysteriously vanished.

Now his only hope in reclaiming his kingdom and reuniting with Lisa lies in the remote Northern Mountains, a country no one has ever penetrated and rumored home of a powerful magic source. There, Ha-Neul learns that a being powerful beyond comprehension has been carefully guiding his destiny. But if Ha-Neul can’t let go of his hatred of all things magic, and accept the new path offered to him, it will mean the destruction of his entire world.

Justine’s
Judgement is the second installment in a brand new Fantasy series by
Ashlie Harris. The first book, which bears the same name as the
series itself, is entitled The Witches of Andar and was released
January 1st, 2018.

In
this sequel to TWoA, Justine and her friends, Alice and Malinda, are
once again fighting back against the evil Duke Ebrius. Evading and
outwitting him at every turn, the witches team up with some very
colorful characters along the way. There’s Jaicor, Malinda’s
cousin and helpful aid to the witches in the early part of their
journey. Jaicor’s wife, Marcine, is a delight, as well. Their witty
banter is a heart-warming sight to the three travel-weary
women.

Later,
the group encounters, Jaicor’s markethand, Olendian, and continues
on to meet Malinda’s other cousin, Jaicor’s sister, Lady Luleth.
Lady Luleth’s husband, Lord Kelton and Jehren, a member of their
staff decide to help Malinda, Alice, and Justine when they come to
Crippen Manor looking for allies. While devising a plan to defeat the
Duke, Justine befriends a guest staying at the Manor. She is Eleyna,
a mysterious and beautiful woman who quickly becomes a close
confidant and ally. Though Justine and Eleyna form a fast bond,
Eleyna’s motives may not be as pure as she portends. Uncovering
secret pasts and unrecognized ancestries, not a soul will be left
unchanged by the events about to take place. In the end, the witches
and their friends will work together to bring down the greatest evil
to ever threaten the land of Andar!

A
trio of An-Kishar witches has unwittingly become involved in a royal
coup. After saving the murdered king’s son, the foursome takes
shelter with a traveling theater troupe, hoping to stay in hiding
until the Prince is able to reclaim his throne.

Fight
alongside Malinda, Alice, and Justine to rid the kingdom of the dark
magic that threatens to run rampant. Venture into the Hanging Ferns
Forest, travel with the Thespian Connection, and help unravel the
mysteries that lie within the realm of Andar!

“Alice!…
You can’t slap a Prince!” -Justine; The Witches of Andar- Book 1

Ashlie
Harris is 30 years old and a Stay-at-Home mother of four homeschooled
children. She and her husband live in the heart of the Midwest, USA,
in a place Ashlie likes to call, “The Land of Corn and Beans”.
She has lived there all her life but may plan to move North in the
near future. A unique childhood and a passion for the written word
have served as motivation and inspiration throughout the years.
Always the writer, Ashlie can often be found asking inappropriate
questions, staring at seemingly nothing for hours on end, and
generally being completely socially awkward. Her biggest wish is for
people to look past their differences and start treating each other
as the one, single race we are- HUMAN.

In
addition to The Witches of Andar series (Book 1-Released Jan. 1st,
2018.), Ashlie is also the author of two anthologies- Extra Life &
Circles of the Soul- and one flash-fiction horror story, Midnight
Monster.

Sir Corbin, retired Hero of Jerkum Pass, dies on the eve of an urgent mission. His granddaughter Kelsa dons the old man’s armor and his wrinkles and sets out to complete his last quest. She ventures to the capital of the Iron Empire. The city is in an uproar. The emperor has been slain by rogue mages. The new empress is livid. Now, every mage is suspect, including Kelsa’s mother.

Hidden behind a magic ring, Kelsa infiltrates her grandfather’s old regiment. As the mission leads her down a path of dark suspicions and lustful adventures, Kelsa struggles to live up to her grandfather’s legacy. Yet the more she examines it, the more holes she discovers, until Sir Corbin’s secret past threatens to expose her.

Unravel The Knight’s Secret, the first fantasy adventure of The Mage Conspiracy series. Discover a world of romantic entanglements and political intrigue where lies cut deeper than any sword.

AUTHOR BIO
Jeffrey Bardwell writes epic fantasy with elements of darkness, steampunk, and romance set in the Metal vs. Magic Universe. His character-driven books are guaranteed to include gritty realism, political intrigue, lurid entanglements, dry wit, and dragons in differing proportions. He devours fantasy and science fiction novels and is most comfortable basking near a warm wood stove. When not writing, Jeffrey enjoys cooking, gardening, and shooing baby dragons from the compost bin.

The author lives on a farm and in a prior life worked as a community ecologist. He is overfond of puns and alliterations. He is also an unabashed history and mythology enthusiast and would love to hear from you.

Kara, as a ward with
no parentage and no future, has been raised knowing nothing outside
her lady’s chambers. Until Royce Capello, a visiting nobleman, is
struck by her ice-pale looks, and demands her as payment for the land
the family needs.

With barely time to
protest, Kara is sold and packed off for a life as a concubine—until
a raiding party descends on Royce’s company and she’s kidnapped
for the second time in as many days.

Whatever happens,
Kara will be alone in the world, inexperienced and fearing even the
vast unfamiliar sky. But one raider gives her a choice—and a magic
mirror appears to show her where each path will lead…

She can leave with
her protector Raven and journey with his performing troupe, competing
for his mercurial affections.

She can flee the
raiders’ settlement, and return to Royce’s manor, chattel among
devious nobility.

Or she can stay in
the settlement, bound to firm, silent Caine, who is as gentle as he
is staid and inscrutable.

Her fates twist and
turn to affect far more than she could have guessed, tangling the
bitter with the sweet—and Kara must choose which consequences she
can live with…

Olivia Geroux knew
her king was reluctant to marry her, whatever the negotiations had
arranged. But she never expected to find handsome, arrogant King
Rowan obsessed with his stepsister instead. And before she can
determine what course to take, she overhears her greatest ally
plotting to murder the princess.

Olivia must act
quickly—and live with whatever chaos results. As the assassin hunts
his prey, a magic mirror appears to show Olivia the three paths that
open before her . . .

If she hesitates
only a moment, the princess will die—and she will become queen.

If she calls for
help, she will gain great power—but she must also thrust away her
own happiness.

If she runs to stop
the murder herself, she will know love and contentment—but her
whole country will suffer.

As she lives out
each path, her wits and courage will be tested as she fights to
protect her people, her friends, and her heart. And deciding which to
follow will be far from easy . . .

On her seventeenth
birthday, Megan of Chaumont discovers she’ll be sold as a bride to
the brutish Volodane family—within hours. Her father grants only
that she may choose which one of the ruthless, grasping lord’s three
sons she weds:

Rolf, the eldest:
stern, ambitious, and loyal?

Sebastian, the
second son: sympathetic, sly, and rebellious?

Or Kai, the
youngest: bitter, brooding, and proud?

As shy, horrified
Megan flees the welcome dinner for her in-laws-to-be, she finds an
enchanted mirror that will display how her life unrolls with each
man, as if she were living it out in a breath. But there is no smooth
“happily ever after” in her choices.

Deaths and honors,
joys and agonies, intrigues and escapes await her in a remote,
ramshackle keep, where these rough but complex men reveal one side
and then another of their jagged characters—and bring forth new
aspects of Megan, too. But the decisions of one teenaged
marriage-pawn reverberate much farther than any of them have guessed
. . .

Barb Hendee is
the New York Times bestselling author of The Mist-Torn Witches
series. She is the co-author (with husband J.C.) of the Noble Dead
Saga. She holds a master’s degree in composition/rhetoric from the
University of Idaho and currently teaches writing for Umpqua
Community College. She and J.C. live in a quirky two-level townhouse
just south of Portland, Oregon.